Machine for producing post-office classification slips



Sept. 25, 1928. 1,685,352

J. P. DAVIS ET AL CHINE FOR PRODUCING POST OFFICE CLASSIFICATION SLIPS Filed Jan. 24, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 in. u?

Nov-Jo, Ill

u: Lwi

J". P170. vl's.

m ATTORNEY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/\/ VENfORS JT P.Dav:.s

Sept. 25, 1928.

J. P. DAVIS ET AL momma. FOR PRODUCING POST opmca cus sxrrcunou SLIPS Filed Jan. 24, 1927 Sept. 25, 192& 1,685,352

J. P. DAVIS :1- AL MACHINE FOR PRODUCING POST OFFICE CLASSIFICATION SLIPS Filed Jan. 24, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS .Da I- rtS-Hc/m HT TOE/\IE Y Patented Sept. 25, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN P. DAVIS A ND SAMUEL HEIMAN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI; SAD) DAVIS ASSIGNOB TO SAID HEIMAN.

MACHINE FOR PRODUCING POST-OFFICE CLASSIFICATION SLIPS.

Application filed January 24, 1927. Serial in. 183,178;

This invention relates to a. machine for producing classification slips, such as are used in United States post ofiices for marking bundles or batches of mail which are to be delivered to postmen or mail carriers for distribution on their routes.

In the operation of assorting mail in United States post oflices it is the usual custom to first make a preliminary classification or assortment by whichthe mail received at a main post-oflice or other classification point is assorted according to zones, sect-ions or divisions. Subsequently, the mail for each of said zones or sections is divided into separate batches or bundles which are given to the carriers employed to deliver said mail to the addressees. In this second assorting or classifying operation the clerks who'perform the work use slips ofpaper to indicate or designate the carriers to whom the bundles of assorted mail are to be delivered for distribution. For example, if a particular zone or section comprises six sub-stations or branch postotlice stations, each of which employs six carriers, the clerks who assort the mail for that particular section or zone will divide or assort the mail into thirty-six batches or bundles which subsequently are delivered to the carriers. The classification slips used by the clerks to identify or mark the bundles of mail have indicia thereon which usually consists of the name of the. main post-oflice or the point at which the classification is made, the names of the various sub-stations or branch post-ofiice, the numbers of the carriers who are intended to receive the bundles of mail, the date and-approximate time of the day the classification or assortment was made, and numbers that designate the clerks.

lVith the system now in vogue the classification slips are obtained or produced by cutting large sheets into small slips that have some of the indicia printed thereon and which are intended to have the. remaining indicia. applied theretoby means of rubber stamps. Generally, the large sheets have printed thereon, at numerous points throughout the area of same, the name of the main POSt-OfliCG or classification point, the names of the branch which are thereafter arranged in sets (one set for each assorting clerk) and the individual slips of each set are marked with a hand stamp so as to apply the'number of the mail assorting clerk who will use that particular set of slips and also the date and approximate time of the day when theassortmentwasmade. The time required to sever or cut up the large printed sheets into slips, then arrange sald slips into sets and stamp the individual slips of each set, requires the services of a large number of operatives and adds considerably to the cost of assort-ing mail.

The main object of our'invention is to provide a machine that will produce post-oflice classification slips at a low cost, due tothe fact that it dispenses with the services of a large number of operatives, which, under the present system are required to sever the large printed sheets, assort the slips into sets, and mark the slips with hand stamps so as toapply indicia that must appear thereon, but which it is not practicable to apply at the time the sheets are printed, i. e; the numbers of the assortingclerks and the dates and approximate time the assortments are'made.

Another object is to providea machine for producing post-oflice classification slips that can be changed easily to adapt itto difierent conditions.

Another object is to provide a machlne by means of which a se'tof classification slips, each of which is slightly diflerent from the other slips of the set, can be produced qulck- 1y from a roll of paper and arranged in the order in which they are intended to be used 90 at the time they are attached to bundles or batches of assorted mail. Other objects and desirable features of our invention will be hereinafter'pointed out.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a. top plan VIEW, 95 of a machine embodying our-invention for producing post-ofiice classification slips.

Figure 2 is an enlarged'sectlonal view of a portion of the printing cylinder, illustrating the adjustable numbering wheels with which said cylinder is equipped.

Figure 3 is a detail view of said numbering wheels, illustrating the printing type on the periphery of same. I

Figure 4 is'a side elevationalview ofthe machine, partly broken away, so as to illustrate the construction of the means that is used for adjusting one bearing'of'the printing cylinder shaft.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view of the r0- tatable drum on the printing cylinder.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of one end of the. printing cylinder, illustrating the means that is. used for turning the printing drum on said cylinder. I

-Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 7 -7 ofFlgure 4, look ng n the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view or, sectional view of the printing cylinder, illustrating how the rotatable drum and the adjustable immbering-wheels are mounted in said cylinder; and I I Figure 9 is an enlarged plan view of the printing cylinder.

v Briefly described, our machine consists of imprinting member arranged to act on a section of a strip of paper that constitutes one slip of a set and produce indic-ia. on said slip that is: the same for each slip of the set, an independent printing element that operates in conjunction with said printing member to produce indicia that is different for the various slips of the set, means for feeding the strip past said printing member and printing element, means .for severing said strip into individual slips, and means for arranging said 7 slips in'an orderly manner, as, for example,

in thesequen'ce in which they are used at the time they are applied to bundles of assorted mail; The mainpinting member and the independent printing element can be constructedand arranged in various ways without departing from the spirit ofour invention, and any suitable or preferred means can' beusedfor feeding the strip and for severing the strip into individual slips, italso being immaterial whether the machine is provided withmeans for stacking the slips or arranging them in a certain sequence; In the machine herein illustrated, which represents the preferred form of our invention, the main printing member consists of a rotatable member provided witha cylindrical orsegmental portion equipped with printing type that proi'duces printing, impressions on the slips that I are'the same forall of the slips of theset and which will usually consistof thenaine of ,the mainpost-office or other classification point, the date and approximate time the classification i'smadeand the number of the mail assortingjclerk who is to use the set of-slips.

, the indicia produced-on the slips.

Preferably, the device that is used to print the number which designates the mail assorting clerk is so constructed that it can be easily adjusted after one set of slips has been printed so as to readily adapt the machine for use in printing a set of slips for another mail assorting clerk. The independent printing elem cn t, previously referred to, preferably conat each cycle of operations of the printing cylinder so as to bring a diiierent group of remainin slips of the set and which usually will consist of the names of the sub-stations or branch pcst-oflices and the numbers of carriers who are to deliver the bundles of mail to which the slips are attached.

The printing cylinder can be operated either manually or by an electric motor or other suitable operating means, and the printing type on said cylinder are mounted in such a way, that'they can be changed easily'to vary The segmental or cylindricalportion of the member A that carries the type is preferably removable. I 1 v In the preferred form of our invention ierein illustrated the frame 1 of the machine is of oblong shape in general outline and pro that passes between the printing cylinder ii and the platen 4: at-each cycle of operaions of said cylinder; The cylinder A can 'eitherbedriven by an electric motor or other suitable driving means, or it can be provided with a manually-operable operat ing crank 5,'and any suitable means can be used for driving the platen 4 and for impartingmovement to the feeding mechanism for the strip and to the cutting mechanism that severs the strip into individual slips. In the machine herein illustrated the printing cylinder A 1s provlded at one end witha gear 6 that mesheswith a pinion? attached to the printingcharacters into operative'position, and thus. cause each slip of the set to be pro vided withindicia that is different from the vided at one end with standards 2 that su shaft 8 of the platen roll, as shown in Figure 4, and feed rolls 9 and co-operating pressing rolls 10 are used to feed the strip rearwardly beyond the printing cylinder into position to be acted upon by a knife or other suitable cutting device 11 that severs the strip into separate sections, each of which constitutes a post-office classification slip ;1 The feed-rolls 9 and the co-operating pressing rolls 10 are so designed that they act on the edge portions of the strip, and the feed rolls which are ar ranged under the strip are connected to a shaft 9 provided with a pulley 9 that is driven from the platen roll shaft by a belt 9, as shown in Figure 1. The. pressing rolls 10 that co-operate with the feed rolls are carried by a shaft 1O that is arrangedtrans versely of the frame of the machine, as shown in Figure 1, and which is supported by a pair of rock arms l0 pivotally mounted on the frame of the machine, one of said rock arms having an angularly-disposed extension 10 shown in Figure 4, whic i is provided with a roller 10 that travels on an annular surfac on one end of the cylinder A which is provided with a cam 10 disposed so as to cooperate with the roller 10 to rock the supporting arms for the pressing roll shaft in a direction to cause the rolls 10 to press the strip downwardly against the feed rolls 9 during the time the on the strip. The knife 11 is arranged transversely of the strip above the same, and said knife is reciprocatingly mounted in guides '11" carried by the frame of the machine. As

shown in Figures 1 and 4, the actuating means for said knife consists of a pair of substantially bell-crank-shaped levers 12 provided at one end'with longitudinallydisposed slots 12 that receive laterally-projecting extensions 13 on the knife 11 and provided at their opposite ends with rollers that are adapted to co-operate with cams 14 on atransverselvdisposed shaft 15 which is driven from the platen roll shaft by means of a train of gearing designated as an entirety in Figure 41 by the reference character 15.

After the section or portion of the strip :0 that constitutes a clasification slip has been severe d, said slip y is fed rearwardly onto a receiving table 16, and when the machine is in operation, the slips 3 will be stacked one upon the other on said receiving table, as shown in Figure 4, thereby causing the slips that constitute a to be arranged in the order in which the clerk uses them in theoperation of attaching said slips to the bundles or batches of mail that have been assorted. Any suitable means can be used for conveying the slips to the receiving table 16, but the means herein il strated for this purpose consists of a conveyor belt 17, that surrounds a roll 18 arranged in proximity to the receiving table 16, and a roll 19 that is connected to a shaft 20 which isdriven from the feed roll shaft printing type are acting tute a operates intermittently so as to countthe number of slips that are produced in tl1e n1a-' chine, and thus enable the operator in charge of the machine to easily determine When the machine should be stopped at the completion of the operation of producing a complete set of classification slips. v

As previously stated, the complete printing mechanism of the machine comprises the rotatable cylinder A, an independent printing element on said cylinder that moves relatively to the cylinder at each cycle of operations of the cylinder and brings into operative position different groups of type that produce printing impressions on the slips which are different, and an adjustable printing device on the printin cylinder A whose position or condition can be changed after a set of slips has been printed so as to enable the machine to be used for printing different sets of slips for use by different mail classification clerks. The independent printing element just referred to preferably consists of a small drum B rotatably mounted in the printing cylinder A in such a manner that a portion of the periphery of said drum is normally positioned in an openingQZ-l in the periphery of the cylinder A, so as to cause the printing type that are carried by the exposed portion of said drum B type on the drum A are acting on the strip. At each cycleof operations of the printing cylinder the drum B is moved automatically relatively to said cylinder, so asto bring another group of printing type on said drum into operative position on the printing cylinder, and thus cause each slip that is produced in the machine. to be provided with indicia that is slightly different from the indic-iaon the other slips of the set. i

Generally, the cylinder with type that areused to slips that'is the same on plete set and which to act on the strip at the time the printing designates the point at which the classification or assortment of the mail was made and the date and the approximate time of the assortment. For example, the printing cylinder A may be provided with type that produce a similar printing impression on each slip consisting of the words From St. Louis, Mo; November 30, 1926 9 00a. 111., as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. The drum B is provided With transversely-disposed lines of typethat correspond in number to the number of slips 1 that constic'omplete set, each of which lines of type will produce a printing impression on the slips that different for each slip of the complete set. 'For eXample,'the drum B may be provided witha line of type'fo'r producing indicia on one numbers 861 and 83 i designating the carriers or postmen who deliver mail from said branch post-offices. V

' Various means can be used to move the drum B automatically relatively to the cylinderA at each cycle of operations of said cylinder, but we have herein illustrated the drum B as being rotatably mounted on a diskshaped supporting web 24: and provided at one edge with laterally-projecting pins 25 that co-operate with a pawl or other actuating device 26 to move the drum B one step rearwardly relatively to the printing cylinder p A at each cycle 01": operations of said cylinder, the dog 26 being 'adjustably connected to a shaft 27 that is rotated in the direction'indicated by the arrow in Figure at by a gear on said shaft which meshes with the gear 7 on the platen roll shaft. The drum B is normally held at rest relatively to the printing cylinder by one or morespring-pressed devices 28 on the supporting disk 2st that co-operates with notches or teeth 28 on the interior of the drum B, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. In order that the drum B may be removed easily from the cylinder A and replaced by a diilerent drum provided with printing type of a diiterent character or arrangement, the disk 2 is provided with a supporting shaft 29 that is adapted to. be slipped into a bearing 30,011 the drum A and then securedjin position by a set screw 31 or other suitable fastening device. .It will be understood that in printing one set of slips only one. drum B is used, which drum is e nipped with suflicient lines 01": type to produce the indicia on the slips (consisting usually of the names of, sub-stations and carriers numbers) that distinguishes the slips of the set from each other. When the machine is used for producing classification slips for another section or zone, however, it is necessary such a manner that it is capable of being I changed or ad usted to set up a different numto use a diiierent drum B, due, of course, to the fact that different carriers are employed to distribute the mail in said different Zone and also because there may 1 be different branch post-ofiices in said zone. Therefore, it is highly important that the drum B be in ounted on the printing cylinder A insuch a manner that it can be quickly taken oft ofor applied to said. cylinder. 7

The ot ier printing device on the cylinder A, previously referred to, and which, in most instances, is used for. printing numbersthat are used to designate the clerks who assort or classify the mail. is preferably constructed her, for after one set of slips has been printed, it is necessaryto change the cond tionvof the 7 machine so that the next set of slips that s producediii the machine and which is intended to be used by a different clerk, will be provided with a number that designates that particular clerk. In the form of our invention herein illustrated the adjustable printing deyice just referred to is formed by a pluality ct numbering wheels 32 rotatably mounted in the printing cylinder A in such a manner that portions of the peripheries of said printing wheel are positioned in an opening 33 toi'ined 1n the periphery of the cylinder A, as shown in Figures 8 and 9. The

wheels 32 are provided on their peripheries withprinting type and each of said wheels has a ratchet 3 shown in Figure 2, that cooperates with a spring-pressed pawl 35 carried by the cylinder A, so as to cause said rinting wheels to normally be held at rest with relation to the p 'inting cylinder. Preparatory to printing a set 01 slips, the operator in charge of the machine adjusts the printing wheels 32 into such a'position that the irinting type on said wheels co-operate to form the number that designates the clerk who is to use that particular set of slips, j thereby causlng the clerks number, 7 71, to be printedon the strip m at each cycle of operations'oi' the printing cylinder. The particular construction of the printing cylinder A is immaterial, but it will usually be provided in its periphery withtransversely-disposed grooves 36 in which type can be arranged so as to produce the indicia on the slips that is the same for each slip of a set. In most instances the numbering wheels 32 will be so. arranged that the printing type on said wheels will print numbers on the slips being producedthat designate the clerk who is to use the set of slips, but in some instances, it may be desired to omit the classification cleiLrs number. Therefore, we provide each of the numbering wheels with a blank space or portionthat does not contain a printing type, asshown in Figure 2, and when the machine is being used for producing slips that are not equipped with designating numbers 'lorthe classification clerks, the wheels 32 are arranged so that the blank portions of same will be positioned in the opening 33 in the periphery of the printing cylinders.

In order that the type on the printing cylinder and on the drum and numbering wheels carried by said cylinder will bear uniformly on the strip :0 and produce an even printing impression, a means is provided for adjusting the printing cylinder A relatively to the platen 4, which means is herein illustrated as consisting of adjustable wedges 37. shown in V Figure 4, whose positions can be changed so as to raise or lower the bearings 38 that support the ends of the shaft of the printing cylinder A. Any suitable means can be used to supply ink to the type on the printing cylinder and to the drum and numbering wheels carried by said cyl nder, such, for example, as an inking roller 39 to which ink is supplied from a fount or other suitable source of supply.

A machine of the construction above described will produce post-office classification slips at a low cost, due to the fact that it will do work, which, under the present system of obtaining such slips, requires the services of a large number of operatives; it is of such simple design that it is not apt to get out of order when it is in use, and it can be changed quickly and easily to change the indicia on the slips, and thus enable the machine to be used for printing classification slips for a number of different zones or sections.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine for producing post-office classification slips, comprising a rotatable printing cylinder equipped with type, a rotatable platen that co-operates with said cylinder, feeding rolls for feeding a strip of paper between said platen and cylinder, a rotatable drum on said cylinder provided with printing type and arranged so that a portion of said drum is positioned in an opening in the periphery of said printing cylinder, a means that normally prevents said drum from turning relatively to the cylinder and a rotatable device actuated by the platen for turning said drumforwardly a definite distance. at each cycle of operations of said cylinder.

2. A machine for producing post-office classification slips, comprising a rotatable printing cylinder equipped with type, a rotatable platen that co-operates with said cylinder, feeding rolls for feeding a strip of pa per between said platen and cylinder, a drum on said cylinder provided with printing type and arranged so that a portion of said drum is positioned in an opening in the periphery of said printing cylinder, means operated by the platen for turning said drum forwardly a definite distance at each cycle of operations of said cylinder, a cutter for severing said strip into individual slips, and a mechanism operated by the rotary movement of said cylinder for actuating said cutter.

3. A machine for producing post-office classification slips, comprising a rotatable printing cylinder provided with printing type, a rotatable drum on said cylinder providedwith printing type and arranged so that a portion of said drum is positioned in an opening in the periphery of said cylinder, a

rotatable platen that co-operates with the cylinder, a gearing between said platen and cylinder, a device operated by the platen and adapted to co-operate with projections on one end of said drum to turn said drum one step forwardly at each cycle of operations of the cylinder, and means for feeding a strip of paper past the cylinder.

, classification slips,

4. A machine for producing comprising a rotatable printing cylinder provided with printing type, a rotatable drum on said cylinder provided with printing type and arranged so that a portion of said drum is positioned in an opening in the periphery of said cylinder, a rotatable platen that co-operates with the cylinder, a gearing between said platen and cylinder, a device operated by the platen for turning said drum one step forwardly at each cycle of operations of the cylinder, feeding rolls operated by the platen for feeding a strip of paper past the cylinder, and clamping rolls for holding the strip in engagement with said feeding rolls arranged to be operated by said cylinder during the time a printing impression is being produced on the strip.

5. A machine for producing post-office classification slips, comprising a frame, means on said frame for supporting a strip of paper wound into the form of a roll, a rotatable cylinder carried by said frame and provided with printing type that are adapted to act on said strip, a rotatable platen that co-operates with said cylinder, a rotatable printing drum on said cylinder arranged with a portion of its periphery positioned in an opening in the periphery of said cylinder, adjustable numbering wheels on said cylinder provided with printing type, some of which are exposed in an opening in the periphery of said cylinder, gearing for causing said cylinder and platen to operate in unison, a device operated by said platen for rotating said drum relatively to said cylinder at each cycle of operations of the cylinder, feed rolls for the strip operated by the rotary movement of the cylinder, co-operating clamping rolls, a cam on the cylinder for pressing the clamping rolls towards the feed rolls during the printing operation, a knife for severing the strip into individual slips, and a mechanism operated by the rotary movement of the cylinder for actuating said knife.

6; A machine for producing post-office classification slips, comprising a frame, means on said frame for supporting a strip of paper wound into the form of a roll, a rotatable cylinder carried by said frame and provided with printing type that are adapted to act on said strip, a rotatable platen that co-operates with said cylinder, a rotatable printing drum on said cylinder arranged with a portion of its periphery positioned in an opening in the periphery of said cylinder, adjustable numbering wheels on said cylinder provided with printing type, some of which are exposed in an opening in the periphery of said cylinder, gearing for causing said cylinder and platen to operate in unison, a device operated by said platen for rotating said drum relatively to said cylinder at each cycle of operations of the cylinder, feed rolls for the strip operated by the rotary movement of post-office the cylinder, co-operating clamping rolls, a cam on the cylinder for pressing the clamping rolls towards the feed rolls during the printing operation, a. knife for severing the strip into individual'slips, a mechanism operated by the rotary movement ofthe cylinder for actuating said knife, a receiving table,

and a conveyor operated by the rotary movement of the cylinder for conveying the slips from said knife and stacking them in an orderly manner on said receiving table.

JOHN P. DAVIS. V SAMUEL HEIMAN. 

